30-year old Kevin Kilbane signed for Latics on transfer deadline day in August 2006, penning a three year contract with an option for a fourth. The Irish international joined from Everton where he had previously spent three years.

The left-winger began his career with Preston North End and made his debut in August 1996 against Notts. County. The second game of his career was a Coca-Cola cup tie against Latics where the Deepdale club won 3-2 at Springfield Park in first round first leg tie.

A year later, Kilbane became a West Bromwich Albion player for a fee of £1.5million. He became a star at the Hawthorns, and after making 122 appearances, he attracted the services of Sunderland who paid £2.5million for him in December 1999, the Black Cats' third most expensive signing at the time.

However, Sunderland were relegated from the Premiership in 2002, and after Kilbane played in his country's four matches in the World Cup that year, he moved to Goodison Park for £1million, and therefore rejoined manager David Moyes, whom he had played under at Preston.

Prior to his Latics career, Kilbane has made 372 league appearances with just 38 of those as a substitute, and scored 30 goals in the process. He went on to make 31 league appearances for Latics in his first season at the JJB Stadium. Scored his first Latics goal in a 3-3 draw against Spurs in April 2007.